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Circus Bear

from Aluminum Oasis by Michael McNevin

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Written in 2017 Stanley Idaho, at Nancy Cassidy's place on the Salmon River. The song's story was told to me in the early 2000s, by friend, painter and sculptor, Kate Rassmussen. I had asked her about a painting of this bear on a bike, that was painted on her garden wall (see song art). Her depiction and story behind the bear stuck with me, Grusha The Bear's journey riding away from the circus. I finally wrote the song, 17 years later. Katie is now 92 years old, still going strong. She is still creating art, sculpture, and blogging - that's how I found her when I googled the story about her bear! She had posted the bear painting in her blog in May of 2012, which is how I reconnected with her on the story, doing a google about Grusha. Her posts are many, poignant, often hilarious slices of life - look her up: pachofaunfinished.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/grusha/),

About four months after I wrote the song, I saw her husband Sam (now 94) standing out on the corner by the old Nile Cafe. She was down the street getting her hair cut. When she came up the street, we walked a half block to the cafe where we used to hang out in Niles, back when they were in their 70s. We were always playing having coffee and chatting back then too, with the other locals. After so may years, was great to enjoyed their company, visit the bear's story again, play the song for them at one of the sidewalk cafe tables. Thanks Katie for the inspiration, in art and life. Love Mike.

lyrics

“Circus Bear” by Michael McNevin

They call me Grusha, I was a Russian circus bear.
I'm on my way back to Siberia, yes I am, I'm gonna pedal there.
They taught me how to dance and ride, three shows every night.
They turned their backs and off I rode, on my trusty circus bike.

I sat up straight, went round and round, traded treats for their commands.
Held on tight to the handlebars, used my feet like they were hands.
I raced the pigs and the chimpanzees, but I know I'm not a man.
And now for 30 miles I've pedaled straight, and they don't know where I am.

Refrain:
They call me Grusha, I was a Russian circus bear.
I'm on my way back to Siberia,
Yes I am, I'm gonna pedal there.

Is it wrong to run away? is this how a bear behaves?
Ride through lanes of quiet neighborhoods, in a silly gown and a silly hood.
They make the clothes, and dress me up, I can't help how I look.
Now if they don't recognize me, good, I'm gonna pedal right into the woods.

(Refrain)

(Bridge)
Life beneath the big top canvas, is all I've ever known.
Trailers, cages, town to town, sometimes we passed my forest home.
And I'm not sure what I'll do now, it's a game of hide and seek.
Maybe they'll just quit and go home too, and I'll spend the winter off my feet.


Now I'm on a country path, full of apple trees & farms.
Two horses see me, kick their heels. How I could use a barn.
But I can't stop to rest or drink, I gotta pedal till I'm gone.
I do not know how close I am, but I smell the trees, it won't be long.

(Refrain)

The sky up here is so much bluer, than I remember as a cub.
I sit down by a berry bush, not a hint of circus grub.
Forest air runs through my fur like grass, my brown face against the sun.
No finish line, just the forest pines, the only bicycle race I ever won.


Words and Music by Michael McNevin.
Guitar & Vocal by Michael McNevin.
© 2017 Michael McNevin. All Rights Reserved.
Mudpuddle Music (ASCAP).
P.O. Box 2235 Fremont CA 94536
www.michaelmcnevin.com

credits

from Aluminum Oasis, released February 2, 2023
released February 1, 2018
Words and Music by Michael McNevin.
Guitar & Vocal by Michael McNevin.
Recorded by Phil Bennett in his home studio, Pleasanton, CA.
© 2017 Michael McNevin. All Rights Reserved.
Mudpuddle Music (ASCAP).
P.O. Box 2235 Fremont CA 94536
www.michaelmcnevin.com

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Michael McNevin San Francisco, California

Michael McNevin's songs read like short stories, a keen eye for detail for the characters and places in his travels. Shared stages with Johnny Cash & The Carter Family, Donovan, Shawn Colvin, Christine Lavin, Richie Havens. Main-stages at Strawberry, High Sierra, Kerrville, Philly Folk Fest. Kerrville New-Folk winner, “DYI Artist Of The Year” for Performing Songwriter, “Song Of The Year” for WCS. ... more

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